Sanitary toothpick-holder.



L. JOHNSON.

SANITARY TOOTHPICK HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1917.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

LEWIS JOHNSON, OF WILLMAR, MINNESOTA.

SANITARY TOOTHPICK-HOLDER Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed June 11, 1917. Serial No. 174,161.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of \Villmar, inthe county of Kandiyohi and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sanitary Toothpick-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to receptacles for delivering articles, one at a time, and adapted to be manipulated by hand by the person desiring to obtain one of the articles to be dispensed.

Specifically considered the invention provides a holder for toothpicks to prevent waste by delivering one toothpick only at one operation; to guard against contamination by inclosing the toothpick in such a manner as to prevent dust, flies and like insects reaching them, as also to keep persons from touching them with the fingers; to insure positive delivery and ease and convenience of operation.

WVhile the invention is primarily intended to provide a holder for toothpicks. it is to be understood that it is equally well adapted for matches, drinking straws and like articles capable of being dispensed singly, hence in adapting the same to meet special conditions and requirements various changes in the form, proportion and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

The invention consists of a casing having a lateral delivery and divided by a partition into upper and lower compartments. The upper compartment constituting a magazine for receiving the toothpicks, or like articles, and the lower compartment containing the operating or dispensing mechanism, embodying a plunger, an agitator and a swinging member forming a cover.

The invention also consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts which hereinafter will be morefully described and claimed.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front view of the toothpick holder embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detail views of parts on a larger scale, illustrating the different positions of the delivery mechanism.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated 1n the several views of-the drawings by like reference characters.

The holder comprises a casing 1 which may be of any design, size, or material and as shown embodies a front 2 and a back 3. A partition 4 subdivides the casing 'into'an upper compartment 5 and a lower compartment 6. The compartment 5 constitutes a magazine for the toothpicks 7 or other articles to be delivered. The compartment 6 receives the operating mechanism, consisting of a plunger 8, a lever 9 and an agitator 10. A delivery openin 11 is formed in the front 2 of the holder Or. casing 1. The partition 4 inclines forwardly and downwardly from the back '3 and terminates a short distance from the front 2 and below the opening or lateral delivery 11. This partition a forms a bottom for the compartment 5 and supports the toothpicks 7.

A ledge 12 is disposed at the top of the opening 11 and inclines inwardly and downwardly. A partition 13 depends from the inner end of the ledge 12 and terminates a short distance from the partition A leaving a small space for the passage of the toothpicks. The lower end of the partition 13 curves rearwardly as indicated at 14 to assist in separating the toothpicks. A delivery space 15 is formed forward of the partition 13 and between the partitions 4 and 12 for receiving a few toothpicks so as not to impede the action of the plunger 8.

A plate 16 is disposed in the upper part of the delivery space15 and is hinged in the angle formed between the partitions l2 and 13 as indicated at 17, so as to swing upward close against the ledge or partition 12. The plate 16 extends across the dclivery space 15 and rests on the front 2 at the lower end of the delivery opening 11 and covers the toothpicks in the space 15 and protects them from dust, flies and fingering. Theend 2 of the front 2 at the lower end of the opening 11 inclines outwardly and downwardly to prevent the toothpicks from lodging thereon.

The plunger 8 is disposed against the inner side of the front 2 and is adapted to have a vertical reciprocatory movement imparted thereto. The plunger operates between the front 2 and fl p i i the upper end ofthe plungerbeing about flush with the partition at When'at the limit of its downward lDDIVBD'lQlllJ. l8 depends from the front of the partition 4 to present an extended bearing against the plunger. The plunger is operated by means of'the lever 9 Which ispivoted at 19 to a side of the casing, the inner end of the lever being forked and engaging a pin or screw 20 let into the plunger. The upend of the plunger is cut avvay at Zl to provide a seat to receive one toothpick.

This seat inclines forwardly to insure out- Ward delivery of the toothpick the instant the latter clears the inclined end 92 of the .frontfli l. A receptacle 5522 is arranged on thefront .52? near the open1ng"l1 to rece ve the toothp ck. This receptaclemay be of any resign and is SllOWIl constructed of Wires so as not to catch dust or other foreign .tion to prevent the .toothpiclrs feeding too freely into the delivery space 15; The member 2 preferably consists of a plate having ltilOWQI forward portion 25 cut away. to provide forv the tilting of the member. I

The plunger 8 is superior in weight and when resting on the front end of the mem- Q l depresses the same and elevates the rear end and the bar 10. When the plunger is elevated the. bar 10 drops and tilts the member 24: into. horizontal position. The top of the barf-1 0 comes about flush With the upper, side of the partition 41 .vvhen the bar is at the limit of its downward movement, thereby permitting the tooth picks. to pass over the partition into. the delivery space'l5. Nhen pressure isremoved from. the lever 9 the plunger 8 drops and. tilts the member 5%? suddenly and throws the bar 10 upwardly quickly and jars thetoothpicks, thereby preventing them from arching andfailing tofeed.

'l'he'toothpicks may be supplied to the magazine 5 in any manner and a few pass into the delivery space 15 and overthe plunger. Upon depressing theouter. end of the lever 9 the plunger is elevatedand the toothpicks lodged upon the, seat :21? are carried upward, the ren iaining toothpiclrs being pushed aside. Nhen, the-plunger reaches theplate -.l6- -any surplus tooth:

' picks. carried upu ard bythe plunger. are

brushed off and said plate is. swung upward andithe toothpick lodged I the seat Q l Z may dine. therefrom ny meeft sitleers A lip M ss dispose aga ns he.

shows the toothpickdislodgedby' the ar in- 'cident to the late 16 strikin the arti- P e P tion 5912. Thetoothpick falls into the receptacle 522 from Which it is removed in a manner Well understood.

In the construction shown the casing has the upper portions of its front and back' formed by plates $30 and 31. of glass or other transparent material to admit of theinterior being readily observed'so'that the magazine may be keptsupplied and be pre rented from becomii ggempty I claim: Y

In a holder fortoothpioks andlike articles having a lateral delivery, a Vertically mova le plu g ne .ag tate and xtiltahl member, for transmitting -moven ent from the alun er to the vanitator.

l. O b

.2. In a tone for too nicks. and. h at having a lateral delivery, a vertically 93" able p unge a cal y ma able agitatnr, and a loose tilting member extending :be- .neath the plunger and agitator and operable by the, plunger; V 1 I 3. A holder-having a lateral -.del; ivery-, a servant n l ng t wa d t e .s e i 6 v a d p s e w t e ame, ea for restricting the supply to the forward P91.-

cn. o th s rmise ve ica mm vab e i he l 'r h t ng the di ry e d forward r the said support.

4. A holder having a 1.e. 1ivery.-0Penine' in t ;0nt a pa o div ding th -holde i pp r a d e el? on-anartm nt taed die ward y and:downwfidlam ans div di g t ow .fer a nen o o the er m tment. t pm ide a d very pace an e P ung r-movab e t ically the. deliyeryspace againstthe inner side of the r nt, and a Pl hingede he nne upper p of hesaidfd l env pacean aieining otw n lv ownwardly acr he p t o iher' une r- 5- A.- hpl le ar s. a de -t rry op ni in t east, partitiondividing. the holder nt pper er so emn-reen er and inclining ew-Me ly end-do wa d rtmeae i esz liew forar p es f he ppe comp r m t P e -isle ad hreny space, and a plunger. movable ventically -in the d liv ry. space 1 against he -:i n.n.er. side of he 1 gitatorpe ble th n-11 b the e r. Po tion fr f Partit on, animals for ing mov men rom n ens ta he. ask-at p: i a

6. A holder having a delivery opening in its. front, a; partition dividing the holder into upper and-lower compartments, .andgindining-forwardly and downwardly-,- means div i g he lev r rw rd: ve tic il he upper compartment to provide a delivery raee a tlep ueeer mov ble-rattl hedeliver; eaeeaealest. 11

the ees. aeitatee: mania and a tiltable member loose on the bottom of the holder and extendingbeneath the plunger and the agitator.

7. A holder having a lateral delivery,,a partition dividing the holder into upper and lower compartments and inclining forwardly and downwardly, a partition extending rearwardly and downwardly from a point above the lateral delivery and having a depending portion at its inner end terminating a short distance from the first mentioned partition to form a delivery space, a plunger operable in the delivery space, and a plate hinged at the inner upper corner of the delivery space and extending forwardly and downwardly across the path of the plunger and through the said lateral delivery.

8. A holder having a lateral delivery, a partition dividing the holder into upper and lower compartments and inclining forwardly and downwardly, a partition extending rearwardly and downwardly from a point above the lateral delivery and having a depending portion at its inner end terminating a short distance from the first mentioned partition to form a delivery space, a plunger operable in the delivery space, and a plate hinged at the inner upper corner of the delivery space and extending forwardly and downwardly across the path of the plunger and through the said lateral delivery, an agitator operable in the rear of the delivery space and a tiltable member extending beneath the plunger and the agitator.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS JOHNSON. Witnesses:

CHARLES JoHNsoN,

C. B. CARLSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). G. 

